Schedule to the Mixed Use Zone

MURRINDINDI PLANNING SCHEME 21 MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT 19/01/2006 VC37 21.01 Murrindindi Shire Profile 14/01/2010 C25 21.01-1 Introduction 19/01/2006 VC37 Murrindindi Shire has an area of 3,887 square kilometres and is situated on the north fall of the eastern section of the Victorian highlands. With the exception of a small area south of Kinglake, the whole of the shire is within the catchment of the Goulburn River. This catchment drains to the north via the Rubicon River, the Acheron River, the Yea River, and the King Parrot Creek, and then to the west along the broad valley of the Goulburn River downstream of Lake Eildon. The significance of the waterways of the shire can be appreciated when it is realised that although the Goulburn-Broken Catchment comprises only 2% of the Murray Darling Basin’s land area, it generates 11% of the water. A large part of the shire is forested with significant conservation reserves found in the Kinglake National Park, Yarra Ranges National Park, Lake Eildon National Park and the Cathedral Range State Park. 21.01-2 Regional context 26/07/2006 C14 The Shire adjoins the municipalities of Strathbogie, Mitchell, Mansfield, Whittlesea, Nillumbik and Yarra Ranges. Like Murrindindi, the adjoining municipalities are strongly influenced by the form of the Central Highlands. The river valleys and their floodplains offer high quality soils and opportunities for agriculture. The ranges are associated with forests, timber production, water harvesting, recreation and tourism. Lake Eildon, on the border of Murrindindi and Mansfield Shires, is a major water storage for irrigation, stock and domestic supply, power generation and recreation. The dominant towns for higher order services to the north of the Shire are Shepparton (population 32,000) and Benalla (population 8,500). To the south, the proximity of the Melbourne metropolitan area draws commercial trade from the shire to the shopping centres of the northern and eastern suburbs. The economies of the majority of the rural shires in the region are dependent on agriculture and timber production along with the related industries and support services in the neighbouring towns. Low commodity prices in recent years have forced farmers to look for alternative sources of income by diversifying into farm forestry, horticulture and off farm sources. Due to the natural beauty of the region, tourism also plays a significant role in the economies of these shires. Under the Private Timber Strategy, the North Eastern region is expected to triple private timber production in the next 20 years. The timber industry will play greater role in the economy of the region as a consequence of this strategy. 21.01-3 Population 19/01/2006 VC37 In 1996 the estimated population of the Murrindindi Shire was 12,452. The age structure is relatively young with 30% being aged under 17 years of age and a further 35% aged between the years of 25 to 44. Population growth has been modest with an average rate of 2% between 1986-1996. Projections by the Department of Infrastructure show that the population of the Shire is expected to increase to 15,773 by 2011. The increase in population can be accommodated within the main towns of Alexandra, Yea and Eildon, all having water and sewerage infrastructure capable of expansion and residential land supply in excess of 30 years. MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT - CLAUSE 21.01 PAGE 1 OF 3 MURRINDINDI PLANNING SCHEME 21.01-4 Townships 14/01/2010 C25 The 1996 populations of the major settlements are given in Table 1 below. Table 1 Populations of the major settlements. TOWNSHIP POPULATION Alexandra 1,895 Kinglake (inc. Kinglake East, Kinglake West, Kinglake Central 1,229-1,600 est. and Pheasant Creek) Yea 989 Eildon 705 Marysville 612. (prior to fires) Source: Unpublished Department of Infrastructure data. The smaller townships and settlements include Narbethong, Buxton, Taggerty, Thornton, Flowerdale, Yarck, Hazeldene, King Parrot, Silver Creek, Taylor Bay, Toolangi and Molesworth. Alexandra and Yea are rural service centres that have developed around the grazing and timber industries. Due to their locations at the junction of the Goulburn Valley Highway with the Maroondah and Melba Highways respectively, the towns are well placed to service the substantial tourist and recreation trade for Lake Eildon and Mount Buller. Both communities have full range of physical and social services available. Eildon was built by the former State Rivers and Water Supply Commission in the 1950’s for the construction of Lake Eildon. Apart from the resident population, it has a primary role as a tourist destination for visitors to Lake Eildon, Eildon State Park and Fraser National Park. Significant boating, caravan and camping facilities are provided on the foreshore of the lake in close proximity to the town. Marysville is a tourist town that has developed around the major industries of timber and tourist accommodation. The town is the service community for Lake Mountain, which is Victoria’s second most popular ski resort with 200,000 visitors per annum. The bushfires of 7 February 2009 devastated Marysville. The redevelopment of Marysville and the surrounding Triangle communities as safer, more sustainable settlements is supported with a continuing important tourism role. Kinglake is located on the Great Dividing Range at the southern boundary of the Shire. It comprises of three distinct settlements at Kinglake East, Kinglake and Kinglake West, including Pheasant Creek. Kinglake is an area of fertile red soil and high rainfall which is suitable for the production of potatoes and other vegetable products, being close to metropolitan markets. The proximity to the metropolitan area has made Kinglake popular for people seeking a country lifestyle while maintaining employment in the urban area. These settlements have developed in a sporadic manner without any overall plan for the provision of infrastructure or community services. 21.01-5 Infrastructure 26/07/2006 C14 Three main highways, all following major river valleys, meet the transport needs of the Shire. The Goulburn Valley Highway bisects the Shire from east to west, while the Maroondah Highway enters the north eastern corner of the Shire and, after Alexandra, follows the Acheron River valley south to Healesville and the Melbourne metropolitan area. The Melba Highway extends from the junction with the Goulburn Valley Highway at MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT - CLAUSE 21.01 PAGE 2 OF 3 MURRINDINDI PLANNING SCHEME Yea, south along the Yea River Valley to Yarra Glen. On the western boundary of the Shire, the Whittlesea-Yea Road and Broadford-Flowerdale Road follow the King Parrot Creek to Whittlesea. Goulburn Valley Region Water Authority is responsible for the provision of water and sewerage services throughout the majority of the Shire. The townships of Alexandra, Yea, Eildon and Marysville are serviced by reticulated water and sewerage systems, with Buxton, Molesworth and Thornton being supplied with reticulated water only. The Kinglake settlements, Narbethong, Buxton, Taggerty, Thornton, Flowerdale, Yarck and Molesworth and are all unsewered and contribute, directly or indirectly, to the water quality issues of the Goulburn-Broken Catchment. These settlements also contribute to a lesser extent to the Melbourne catchment. 21.01-6 Employment 19/01/2006 VC37 At the time of the 1996 Census there were approximately 5,141 people employed throughout the Shire. The largest employment sector was agriculture comprising 14.3% of the total employment, followed by manufacturing (13.1%), wholesale and retail trade (11.6%), community services (8.2%) and accommodation, cafes and restaurants (8.3%). In terms of occupations, 15.1% of those employed described themselves as managers and administrators which includes farmers, 14.6% as tradespersons, 14.4% as professionals, 13.5% as associate professionals, 11.0% as clerical/retail and 10.8% as labourers. 21.01-7 Principal industries 19/01/2006 VC37 The two principal industries in the Shire of Murrindindi are agriculture and timber. Agriculture forms the major component of the Murrindindi economy. In 1993 there were 316 farming establishments producing commodities to the value of $28 million. Beef production was the sole activity of 43% of farms, while 35% were mainly concerned with sheep grazing for the production of wool with some cattle. More intensive activities include vegetable growing, particularly potatoes and carrots, strawberry growing, dairying, viticulture and fruit. There have been significant areas of grapes for wine production planted in the Murrindindi River Valley since 1993. Murrindindi also has a long history of growing trout and native fish species, with six aquaculture farming operations located within the Shire. The Goulburn River Trout fish farm and processing plant near Thornton is one of the largest fish producers in Australia, producing 600 tonnes of fish per annum for export markets. The Snobs Creek fish hatchery produces juvenile fish for commercial producers and for the restocking of rivers and streams throughout Victoria. Although agriculture is very significant to the local economy, the contribution to the state economy is relatively small, representing about 0.5% of the total Victorian agricultural output. The Shire produces 12% of Victoria’s timber. Softwood production yields approximately 160,000 tonnes per annum. The hardwood harvesting and processing operations within Murrindindi are among the largest in Australia. MUNICIPAL STRATEGIC STATEMENT - CLAUSE 21.01 PAGE 3 OF 3 .

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